News

Crews free woman wedged between 2 buildings in Portland, Ore.

By Nigel Duara, Associated Press

Posted:
01/16/2013 07:03:43 AM PST

Updated:
01/16/2013 10:44:47 AM PST

Click photo to enlarge

Portland firefighters Fred Williams, right, and Gary Fergus check one of two holes that were cut out to free a woman who fell part of the way down the 20-foot wall and got herself stuck between two buildings in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. The woman spent about four hours in a space less than a foot wide Wednesday morning. In addition to the an air bag, rescuers also cut a hole and used a soapy substance to lubricate the concrete block walls to remove the woman.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland firefighters cut a hole through concrete and used an air bag and a soapy lubricant to free an Oregon woman who fell part of the way down a 20-foot wall and got herself stuck between two buildings Wednesday morning.

The woman spent about four hours in a space 8 to 10 inches wide before rescuers managed to free her as television cameras filmed much of the effort.

Lt. Rich Chatman of the Portland fire department, wearing a blue helmet and harness, climbed into the hole cut by rescuers to help apply the soapy substance.

After the woman surfaced at 7:30 a.m., she raised her face, clenched her fists and shouted, "Oh, my God."

Rescuers had built a platform beneath the woman and had turned on a portable heater to keep her warm in temperatures just above freezing. The air bag was used to spread the walls.

"She was in good spirits," Chatman said. "We just tried to reassure her ... we weren't going home without her."

Firefighters said they hadn't gotten a clear explanation of the woman's predicament. Chatman said she had been seen smoking or walking on the roof of a two-story building before she fell.